Typewriting machine



E. G. LATTA.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-25,1919

1 Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

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E. G. LATTA. TYPEWRlT-ING MACHINE. APFLICATION FILED AUG-25. 1919.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

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Parent est tes,

'EMMIT G. LATTA, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TYPEWRITIN G MACHINE.

JLAUQ, 764i.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, 11922.

Application filed August 25, 1919. Serial No. 319,609.

citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in portable typewriting machines and enclosingor carrying cases therefor.

One object of the invention is to produce a practical and desirable portable, typewriting machine and enclosing or carryingcase therefor, of small compact form, and simple, inexpensive, construction; and particularly to accomplish these results in a typewriter of the popular fr0nt-strike kind, having a full size Keyboard and full complement of all the operative parts of the machine are mounted on a single, rigid frame and retain a constant relation to each other at all times so that none of the parts ofthe machine have to be shifted out of their operative positions for reducing the dimensions of the machine; and the machine is not composed of relatively movable parts which can become loose so as to affect the stability or operation of the machine. Other objects of the invention are to so construct the machine that the main frame thereof forms a part of the enclosing case, thus making the frame and case of the fewest possible parts and reducing the dimensions, weight and cost of the machine as compared with machines in which the frame and case are made separate; also to utilize a portion of the case as a support or base for-supporting the machine in an elevated position above the table top without the necessity for separate or additional parts for this purpose; also to locate all of the operative parts of'the machine between two substantially parallel planes, Which in the operative position of the machine incline up-' wardly and rearwardly, one close to the keyboard and platen-"and the other close to the underside of the type-bars, so that the machine and its case can be of the minimum dimensions; also to provide the machine with a carrying handle which is adapted to be turned to a position where it is out of sight and out of the way inside of the machine when the machine is in use; also to provide a non-sonorous pad for the machine that serves to support the machine at a higher elevation and prevent it from creeping on forty-two typeebars and in which the table when in use; and also to improve the construction of typewriting machines in the other respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

F 1g. 1 is an end elevation of a typewriting machlne embodying the invention, enclosed in its carrying case.

Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal sectional elevation thereof showing the machine in position for use.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section of the enclosing case.

Fig. 4 1s a plan view, on a reduced scale, of the supporting pad.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view 'of the main frameor lower part of the case.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the case closed. i I The various operative parts of the machine illustrated in the drawings as an embodiment of the invention, are constructed and arranged as disclosed in my pending application, Serial No. 123,160, filed September 30, 1916, but they can be of any other suitable construction and arrangement adapting them to be located between relatively close, substantially parallel, upper and lower planes which incline upwardly and rearwardly when the machine is in its operative position, as described in said application; and many advantages of the invention can also be realized by providing machines hav- 1ng operative parts differently constructed and arranged, with a main frame and enclosing case constructed in accordance with this lnvention.

Only enough of the operative parts of the machine are shown in the drawings to 'indicate their relative arrangement and give a correct understanding of the invention.

A represents the finger keys, which are preferably arranged as usual in four banks at different elevations, A the space-key bar, B the paper platen journaled as usual to rotate on a transversely movable carriage at the upper rear portion of the machine, 0 two of the type-bars, one at the center of the segment D and the other at the end thereof, E the carriage track bar, F the carriage escapement wheel, G the rack bar on the carriage meshing with the feed pinion H, I the paper table and K one of the ribbon spools.

The finger keys are mounted by parallel tegral piece,

motion levers L L on front and rear cross bars M M and operatively connected to the type-bars. The segment is preferably mounted to shift for upper and lower case printing, as disclosed in said application, The parts mentioned and the other operative parts of the machine not shown, are all mounted in the relation shown, on a single main or supporting frame, and as seen in Fig. 2, are all located between two parallel planes indicated by the lines a-b and cd, so that the machine is adapted to be enclosed in a case having the top and bottom disposed in said two planes.

This main frame 10 comprises a bottom 11, front and rear sides 12 and 13, and opposite ends 14, which parts enclose the lower portion of the machine and form one section, preferably about one-half, of the two-part enclosing case of the machine. Preferably the bottom 11 and the front and rear sides 12 and 13 are formed by suitably bending a single metal plate which is also bent between its ends at 15 so that the front and rear portions of the bottom 11 extend at an obtuse angle to each other. The bottom plate 11 is rigidly secured at its opposite edges or ends to the end plates 14 of the main frame in any suitable way, but preferably so as to permit the bottom plate to be detached if desired. As shown, the end edges 16 of the bottom plate are bent up and overlap and are secured to the lower edge portions of the end plates. While the main frame is preferably constructed as described, of three pieces 'of sheet metal, it could, if desired, be formed in a single, in-

and it could be made of other than sheet metal. Whatever may be its construction the main frame encases the lower portion of themachine and forms a part of its enclosing case, as hereinafter explained. The carriage track bar E, and lever supporting bars M M are rigidly secured at their ends to the ends 14 of the main frame and assist in making the frame strong and rigid. The bars M M are also preferably secured by screws or otherwise to the bottom plate 11. The segment supporting and shifting means (not shown) and the ribbon spools are supported by the end plates 14. The end plates 14 are preferably formed with substantially parallelogrammatic raised panels 17, substantially parallel with the angularly disposed front tom plate 11. The purpose of these panels will presently appear.

18 represents the upper or cover part of the enclosing case of the machine. This referably consists of a single sheet of metal aving a flat top 19 and perpendicular flanges on all four sides. Each of the front and rear flanges 20 and 21 is preferably of uniform depth from end to end, while the the two lower edges of which are' and rear portions of the botedges of the end flanges 22 are preferably shaped to fit the bent upper and lower edges of the ralsed panels 17 on the ends of'the main frame. The rear portion of the cover is made deep enough to cover the ends of the carriage and parts of the machine that project above the rear part of the main frame 10. When the cover 18 is placed over the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, it fits over the upper edges of the main frame or lower case part resting on the upper edges of the-raised 10, with the edges of its ends 22v panels 17 and cooperates with the main frame to form an enclosing case for the machine. If the cover is removed and placed in an inverted position on a table or stand and the machine is placed on the cover with the lower edges of the panels 17 resting on the edges of the ends 22 of the cover, as shown in Fig. 2, then the cover forms a base or support by which the machine is stationarily supported above the table in an inclined position with its rear end highest. No change in the form of the cover or relative movement of any of its parts is required to adapt it to support the machine in such elevated, inclined position.

The typewriter is thus supported at approximately the same height as a standard typewriter, thereby overcoming one of the objections to some portable machines on account of their low-down position. Another desideratum attained by using the case cover as a support for the machine, is that the cover is out of the way but always at hand and does not have to be hunted up when wanted.

Depressions 24 are preferably made in the opposite ends 14 of the main frame forming finger holds for handling the machine. Spring plates or tongues 25 fixed on the opposite ends of the cover are adapted to snap into said finger depressions 24 to hold the cover in place on the machine. 2

Likewise, when the machine is supported on the inverted cover as a base, the springs engaging in the depressions, hold the parts firmly together and prevent the machine from being accidentall; dislodged from its support. .In either position of the cover its edges fit over or surround the main frame, so that it is held securely in place by said springs. To adjust the machine for use, the operator places a finger of each hand under the free ends of the springs 25 and disengiiges them from the finger hold depressions.

c then lifts off the cover, turns it upside down, places the machine in it, and. then preferably places the complete machine on a ping on the table top, or the machine from creeping on the pad when in use. The pad takes the place of the rubber feet usually provided on typewriters, and reduces the height of the machine when it is cased to the extent of the thickness of such rubber feet. When the machine is in use the pad compensates for the omission of the rubber feet, and it also acts to a great extent to prevent noise. The central part of the pad is cut out as indicated at 28. to reduce its bulk so that it can be folded and placed in the machine in the open space over the typebars for transportation with the machine and will be always at hand for use. When so placed the pad serves to prevent movement of the type-bars if the case is turned upslde down, thus taking the place of other packing material for that purpose.

29 represents a handle or bail for carrying the machine. This handle is suitably hinged to the front end 12 of the main frame, which is preferably formed with a depression 30 to receive the handle. This permits the handle to hang out of sight and out of the way inside of the cover-part 18, as shown in Fig. 2, when the machine is in use, and enables the cased machine to be boxed for shipment in as small a space as ifit had no handle. If the machine has to be carried about frequently, the handle can be allowedto hang outside of the case and used to arr the machine without closing the case. gince the handle is attached to the main frame instead of to the cover, no harm can happen to the machine in case the cover is not properly secured and should fall or be knocked off when carrying the machine.

The front portion or keyboard part of the machine and case are slightly wider than the rear parts thereof, and the entire case is free from projecting parts other than the handle and retaining springs 25, and these are located within the outside dimensions of the walls of the case and therefore do not require additional room. As a whole, thecombined machine and case is of less weight, more compact, and costs less to manufacture than if the machine and case were separate. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, the finger holds 24 and panels 17 are made integral with the end plates 13 by pressing in suitable dies, but the side plates with finger holds and raised panels could be constructed in any other suitable way, or if desired, the side plates can be made without such parts, and some other suitable sort of stops used to hold the cover in either of its two different positions. Obviously the invention is just as applicable to machines having a shifting platen, as to the shifting segment machine shown, and also to other than type-bar machines.

Another advantage in the described construction of the frame and case is that the closed base of the frame and the inverted cover answer as a lap board, and enable the machine to be used wherever the operator can find a seat, asin camp, or on railroad trains, the cover being placed under the machine or not as the relative height of the operators knees, and seat, determine which is best, and in either case the pad prevents slipping on the operators knees.

claim as my invention:

1. In a typewriting machine, a combined case and supporting frame for enclosing and supporting the operative parts of the machine,-said case including a removable cover, said cover having one end which is deeper than its other end and being adapted to be placed beneath said supporting frame, whereby said frame is supported in an inclined operating position.

2. In a typewriting machine, a combined case and supporting frame, comprising a main frame portion and a cover portion, said cover being removable and insertable beneath the main frame to support said machine in operating position, said case being of predetermined heights at front and rear when closed,' and said frame and said cover being so formed as to cooperate when the cover is placed beneath the frame to elevate said machine and to provide a greater increase in one of said height dimensions over the other to support said machine in operating position.

3. In a typewriting machine, a main frame supporting a platen, type bars and a keyboard in fixed operative relation between'two planes substantially parallel with each other and with the axis of the platen and which in the operative position of the machine extend upwardly and rearwardly adjacent respectively to the platen and the type bars, and a detachable support for said main frame for holding said machine in the operative position and removable to permit said machine to assume an inoperative position in which said planes are horizontal.

4. In a typewriting machine cover part having a flat top and n'ected flanges on all four sides. part having a bottom comprising portions inclined with respect to each other and rigidly connected flanges on all four sides, and means for detachably connecting the flanges of the top and bottom to completely enclose the machine.

5. In a typewriting machine and case, a hollow frame which supports the operative parts of the machine and which has a closed and case, a rigidly con bottom comprising a portion lying in a substalitially horizontal plane and a portion lying in a plane inclined upwardly from said horizontal plane in the inoperative position of said machine, and a detachable cover having its top wall in a plane parallel with one of said planes.

and a lower I adapted to be placed part having its top wall in a plane parallel with one of said planes.

7. In a typewriting machine and "case, a

rigid frame supporting all of the operative parts of the machine in constant operative relation and forming substantially one-half of the case, a detachable cover adapted to be placed under the frame to raise the same from an inoperative recumbent position to an operative inclined position, and cooperating parts on said frame and said cover for maintaining said frame in an operative position when the'cover is beneath the frame.

8. A front strike typewriting machine having a keyboard, platen and type-bars on a segment, and having its operative paits arranged below a plane extending from the upper part ofthe platen to the keyboard, and above a parallel plane extending from the lower part of the type-bar segment rearwardly, in combination with a carrying case and means associated with said carrying case for supporting the machine with such planes extending rearwardly and upwardly when in operative position, and permitting the machine to assume a prone position when the case is closed.

9. In a typewriting machine and case, a hollow frame which supportsthe operative parts of the machine and has a closed bottom with portions disposed in planes at an angle to each other, and a detachable cover on said frame with its top substantially parallel with one of said planes for enclosing the machine and cooperating parts on said frame and said detachable cover for supportingvthe machine in operative position with said other plane substantially parallel with said cover top when the cover is placed under said frame.

10. In a typewriting machine and case, a hollow enclosing case comprising a frame on which the operative parts of the machine are mounted, and a cover-part adapted to be placed on and cooperate with said frame part to enclose the machine, and to be placed under said frame part and support the machine and cooperating parts on said frame part and said cover part for supporting the machine in an inclined operative position with the rear end of the frame part higher than its front end when said cover part 1s positioned under said frame part.

11. In a typewriting machine and case, a hollow enclosing case comprising a frame part on which the operative parts of the machine are mounted, and a cover part adapted to be placed on and cooperate with said frame part to enclose the machine, and to be placed under said frame part to support the machine in operative position, and cooperating means on said case parts which hold the parts in different angular relations in the two positions of the cover-part.

' 12. In a typewriting machine and case, a hollow enclosing case comprising a frame part on which the operative parts of the machine are mounted, and a cover-part adapted to be placed on saidframe part to enclose the machine and to be placed under said frame part and support the machine in operative position, said frame part having substantially parallelogrammatic end panels against different edges of which the ends of the cover bear in the two positions of the cover. I

13. In a typewriting machine and case, an enclosing case comprising a frame part on which the operative parts of the machine are mounted, and a detachable cover, and a carrying handle seated in said frame part below the surface thereof.

14. In a typewriting machine and case, a main frame, a cover for the same, and a carrying handle connected to the main frame, and arranged to be enclosed within the case when the machine is in operative position.

15. In a typewriting machine, a main frame part on which the operative parts of the machine are mounted, said frame comprising a bottom consisting of a substantially horizontal portion and a portion which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said horizontal portion, and front, side and rear walls rigid with said bottom portions and partially enclosing said operative parts, and a complementary detachable frame constituting a support forthe machine, interengaging parts on said main frame and said complementary frame for maintaining said main frame in operative position with its rear bottom portion upwardly inclined, said complementary frame being adapted to be removed from beneath said main frame and inverted on the upper part of the machine to complete the enclosure of said machine.

16. In a typewriting machine, a main frame part on which the operative parts of the machine are mounted, said frame comprising a bottom consisting of a substantially horizontal portion and a portion which is inclined u wardly and rearwardly from said horizonta portion, and front, side and rear walls rigid with said bottom portions, said operative parts being compactly arranged between said bottom and a plane parallel with said upwardly inclined bottom portion, said plane extending from the upper part of the key-board to the upper part of the platen, and a complementary frame part adapted in operative position: of the machine to rest between a supporting surface and the bottom of said main frame to support the main frame with its rear bottom portion in said upwardly inclined position, said com- I type-bars and machine,

plementary frame having a flat face, interengaging parts on said main frame and said complementary frame for holding said main frame in operative position, said complementary frame being adapted to be removed from beneath the main frame when the machine is not in use and inverted on the upper part of the machine, whereby the machine is enclosed between the frame parts.

17. In a typewriting machine and case, a rigid frame supporting a key-board, platen, other operative parts of the said frame having rigid sides and a bottom forming a portion of the enclosing case for the machine, the front portion of the bottom of said case lying in a plane parallel to the planes of the faces of the keys on the key-board, the rear portion of said bottom lying in a plane at an angle to said first portion and extending upwardly from said first portion, the uppermost parts of said machine lying substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of said rear bottom portion, and a cover having a top extending in said parallel plane of the uppermost parts of the machine when said cover is closed.

Witness my hand this 22 day of August, 1919.

EMMIT G. LATTA. Witnesses:

BERTHA C. BROWN, HELEN E, BROWN. 

